Dominican Republic
Discussion
I'm off with a fairly large group for a 2wk break in the Dominican Republic in a few weeks time to celebrate a wedding.
Its at the Grand Bahia, Punta Cana.
We've never done all inclusive before, and usually we choose to go to places with the sense of exploring the local culture. I'm not sure if I'm going to love or hate it!
Any tips from anyone who has done it before?
Its at the Grand Bahia, Punta Cana.
We've never done all inclusive before, and usually we choose to go to places with the sense of exploring the local culture. I'm not sure if I'm going to love or hate it!
Any tips from anyone who has done it before?
Our one and only all-inclusive holiday was at a Riu resort near Puerto Plata. It was what we needed at the time after a busy year moving house and doing some early renovation work on it. There is a certain appeal to laying around in the sun all day and being able to get a drink or snack anytime you wanted one. Minimum effort. That said we didn't really see a lot of the real Dom Republic, could have been on a holiday resort anywhere really. We only did one excursion which was a "monster" truck safari. Gave you a bit of a taste of the island but it was tailored towards the tourist i.e. stopping at various places selling local wares. Enjoyed it though as it was my birthday which the wife let the guide know, was constantly fed beer and rum for the rest of the trip 
It's a while since I went but there's plenty to do if a week/two of not leaving the resort sounds like too much.
Like anywhere else where tourism is well established there are plenty of 'adventure activities' water parks etc.
Did some white water rafting which was great but a long drive.
You can Whale watch-season dependent though.
I can't remember the details but visited a local school and small village, small coffee production place (they make good coffee). When I go to places I like to see how the locals live to offer contrast other than the fancy hotels etc. Sometimes this has back fired as some places are very poor. The poor in DR are poor but and have bugger all but don't struggle to feed themselves.
Santo Domingo is worth seeing (parts are a world heritage site) if you want to see what a busy Caribbean city looks like, some interesting architecture etc and old by new world standards-16th century.
The Island is of course shared with Haiti but I didn't make it over there so don't know how difficult or worth while this is doing. Poor Dominicans would be relatively rich in Haiti, they pay the Haitian's to do the really back breaking physical labor jobs they don't want to do such as cultivating sugar cane at about 2p per tonne all by hand.
I hired a car and felt perfectly safe, like anywhere just use a bit of common sense.
Like anywhere else where tourism is well established there are plenty of 'adventure activities' water parks etc.
Did some white water rafting which was great but a long drive.
You can Whale watch-season dependent though.
I can't remember the details but visited a local school and small village, small coffee production place (they make good coffee). When I go to places I like to see how the locals live to offer contrast other than the fancy hotels etc. Sometimes this has back fired as some places are very poor. The poor in DR are poor but and have bugger all but don't struggle to feed themselves.
Santo Domingo is worth seeing (parts are a world heritage site) if you want to see what a busy Caribbean city looks like, some interesting architecture etc and old by new world standards-16th century.
The Island is of course shared with Haiti but I didn't make it over there so don't know how difficult or worth while this is doing. Poor Dominicans would be relatively rich in Haiti, they pay the Haitian's to do the really back breaking physical labor jobs they don't want to do such as cultivating sugar cane at about 2p per tonne all by hand.
I hired a car and felt perfectly safe, like anywhere just use a bit of common sense.
Might not be much use but i arrived back on sunday from 2 weeks in puerto plata. Ive visited most of the caribbean islands and i can assure you its nowwhere near as bad as jamaica. We never felt intimidated or had any reason not to feel ok to walk about. However i would say that the locals are very money obsessed and if they feel they can get one over on you to earn a bit of money they will. My girlfriend is spanish so she managed to listen to several taxi drivers saying how they ripped off some tourists etc.
We did some trips and tehpeople who did the tours were brilliant. They understood that they didnt need to not rip people off or have a us and them attitude and it rewarded them with tips from everyone on each trip we did.
It might be too far away but look into 27 waterfalls, ocean world and paradise island. All great days out.
We did some trips and tehpeople who did the tours were brilliant. They understood that they didnt need to not rip people off or have a us and them attitude and it rewarded them with tips from everyone on each trip we did.
It might be too far away but look into 27 waterfalls, ocean world and paradise island. All great days out.
a4cabrio said:
I've stayed at the Gran Bahia resort twice, the last time in November 2014, we love it there. Which hotel are you staying in?? There's 4 or 5 on the resort, we stayed in the Ambar which is an adults only hotel, if it's that one I can help you with some tips
I'm actually going to the Ambar in 3 weeks time...Any tips would be useful!
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